Vending machine



G. B. SMITH.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 02c. 16. 1920.

1,417,578. ented May 30, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

G. B. SMITH.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mm DEC.I6. 1920.

. min

Patented May 30, 1922 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

(Ittoemag G. B. SMITH.

VENDINGMACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 16. 1 920- Patented May 30, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

were stares rarest car es,

GOODWIN B. SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, TO THE JUNO- FORM COMPANY, OF IPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLV'ANIA.

VENDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May so, 1922.

Application filed December 16, 1920. Serial No. 481,249. 7

T osaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GoonwIN B. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at 511 N. 62nd St., Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain vnew and useful Improvements in Vending Machines, of. which the following is a speclfication;

My invention relates to improvements in vending machines.

An important object of the invention is to provide a vending machine, embodying a series of pockets or receptacles, to hold the individual articles "to be vended, and advaries the same to an opening, from which they may be readily withdrawn, whereby the articles are not subjected to the direct action of the operating mechanism of the machine, and there is no liability of the articles binding or choking in the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above mentioned character, formed of few and simple parts, arranged in a'compact manner. I

A further object of the invention ,is to provide a machine of the above mentioned character having means to "prevent the in sertion of a coin within the coin chute, when the magazine is empty.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a machine of the above mentioned character, which is strong, durable, and reliable in operation.

Other objects and, advantages ofthe invention will be outlined during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vending machine embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a front elevation, upon an enlarged scale, parts being shown in section,

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a vertical section take on line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a detail section through the coin operating member, showing the first step in the operation,

Figure 6 is a similar view showing the second step in the operation,

Figure 7 is a similar view showing the last step,

Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken on line 88 of Figure 2,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 2,

Figure 10 is a similar view taken on line l010 of Figure 2,-

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the coin receiving operating mechanism,

Figure 12 is a detail section through a bearing, and,

Figure 13 is a vdetail section through a slightly different form of carrier or drum.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown preferred'embodiments of my invention, the numeral 15 designates a back plate, preferably vertically arranged, and adapted to be secured to a vertical support, by any suitablemeans.

This back support forms one side of a casing 16, i ncluding an upper large circular portion 17, to receive the magazine-or drum, and a lower portion 18, to receive the operating mechanism of the machine.

.The lower portion 18 of the casing may be equipped with fingers or bolts 19, adapted to be inserted upwardly within U-straps 20, secured to the back plate 15. The top of the casing portion 18 carries a lock casing 21, adapted to engage over a bracket 22, rigidly secured to the back plate 15. A look 23 is secured within the lock casing 21, having a bolt 24 to engage behind the bracket 22. Any suitable form of lock may be employed to connect the upper end of the casing with the corresponding end of the back plate, the present lock being shown for the purpose of illustration only.

The numeral 25 designates a rotatable drum carrier or rack, as a whole, embodying Particular attention is called to the fact that the top and bottom and rear side of these pockets are closed, while the forward sides are open. This permits of the with drawal of the articles forwardly in the horizontal direction. As clearly shown in Figures 3 and 9, the inner ring 26 is provided with finger openings '37, one opening arranged centrally above each compartment, as the compartment is brought to the lower discharge position. The ca'sing portion 17 is provided near its bottom with an article removing opening ing at its top a finger opening 39. When each compartment 36 is brought into registration with the opening 38, the finger may be passed through the opening 39 and through the opening 37, to engage with the article within the compartment and withdraw it from the machine. By this means, the actual discharge of the article is effected entirely by the operators finger, and no mechanical means is employed to engage and discharge the article, which is highly advantageous as in machines of this character, where the size of the articles to be vended vary, the articles frequently stick or choke in the machine, where any mechanical means are employed to discharge the articles.

While I prefer to employ the drum or rack with the radial compartments having their forward ends open, yet I may employ radial compartments 40, Figure 13, having their outer sides open.

Means are provided to effect a step by step turning movement of the drum or rack, including an annular gear 41 formed upon the drum or ring 27, and engaged by a gear wheel 42, which is rigidly mounted upon a shaft 43. Acoin-gear 44 is rigidly secured to the forward end of the shaft 43, and is arranged in alinement witha coin member or wheel 45. The coin member or wheel 45 is rigidly secured to a shaft 46, extending horizontally and forwardly to the exterior a bearing 52, carried by a stationary of the casing portion 18, and is equipped with a handle 47, to turn it. The shaft 46 is journaled in a bearing- 48, Figures 3- and 12, having a segmental opening 49. receiving a radial pin 50, rigidly secured to the shaft 46, and serving to limit the turning movement of the shaft. The bearing 48 is carried by a stationary arm 51, fixed to the back plate 15. The shaft 43 is journaled in arm 53. fixed to the back plate.

The shaft 46 carries a member 54, rigidly secured thereto, and having a notch 55, Figwell, formed therein to permanently receive the free end of spring 56, the lower end of which may be secured to a receptacle 57, as shown. 1

Arranged near and above the coin member 45, Figure 4, is a coin chute 57 held stationary by a support 58, secured to the horizontal portion of the arm or bracket 53. This coin chute is arranged directly beneath a coin slot 59, formed through the top of the casing portion 18,'as shown. The com mem- 38, Figures 1, 3 and 4, hav-- To prevent the insertion of a coin into the 70 coin chute when the rack or drum is empty, I provide a guard or shutter 62, in the form of a horizontal swinging plate, adapted to pass over the top of-the coin chute 57 and beneath the top of the casing portion 18.

The guard 62 is pivoted upon a support 63, carried by the horizontal portion of the bracket 53, and this guard is urged forwardly to uncover the coin chute, by a.

spring 64, as shown. The guard is swung inwardly, to cover the coin chute, by a radial pin of projection 65, rigidly attached to the ring 27, as shown. The operation of. the machine is as follows. Assuming that the compartments 36 are filled with the articles to be vended, the operator deposits the coin 61 into the opening 59, and this coin then passes into the pocket 60, of the coin-member.

The operator then turns the handle 47 to the right throughout its entire stroke, which is defined by the length of the segmental opening 49, and radial stop pin 50, Figure 12. As the coin member 45 is turned, the

coin 61 projects radially therefrom, as a tooth, engages the coin wheel 44, and by the time the lever 47 has been swung downwardly for its entire stroke, the drum 36 has, been. advanced one step, to bring the next compartment into registration with the opening 38, whereby the operator may insert the finger through the openings 37 and 39, and remove the article. As the downward movement of the handle 47 is ap- .proached, the coin, Figure 7, discharges from the pocket 60 into the receptacle 57, and when the handle is released,'the spring 56 throws it to the upper position. When the drum has made a complete revolution and all of the compartments or pockets 36 have been emptied, the pin 65 will contact with the rear end of the guard 62, swinging its forward end rearwardly to cover the coin chute 57, whereby it will be impossible to insert a coin into the machine when it is empty. It is also preferred to form the word Empty upon the guard 62 and upon the rear end wall of one compartment.

It is to be understoodthat the forms of my invention, herewith shown and described, are to be taken as'preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in'the shape, size and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of'the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 2-- A vending machine of the character described comprising, an upstanding casing provided upon its forward face and in its lower portion with a main opening which is wholly unobstructed and a finger opening at one side of the main opening and in free communication with such main opening, said finger opening being entirely unobstructed, a rotatable carrier held within the casing and embodying an annular set of pockets adapted to receive articles arranged horizontally therein, each pocket having its rear end closed and its forward end open and wholly unobstructed and adapted for movement into registration with the main opening, each pocket being provided upon one side with a finger opening in communication-with the interior of the pocketand adapted for registration with the first named finger opening, the finger opening in the pocket being disposed wholly within said casing, and means to turn the carrier.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

GOODWIN B. SMITH. 

